What to know about the Singapore Screen Ban for babies
In recent international news, Singapore’s Ministry of Health rolled out an updated list of screen time recommendations for parents with young children—and the Southeast Asian island may very well be setting a standard to de-digitize childhood for Gens Alpha and Beta. Engaging in too much screen time at a young age has been shown to hinder cognitive growth in areas like language learning and attention span, even when it’s just background noise.
Singapore’s latest guidelines issued a complete ban on “background screen time” for children under 18 months old in schools with further recommendations for the home. They suggest keeping screen time strictly educational for those under age 6 and limiting it to two hours per day for children in the 7-12 bracket.
The question is: are they onto something? Some people think it’s a trend worth following given what we know about screen use and overall well-being, but of course, it’s still up to a parent’s discretion. So what should we do with this information?
Why Singapore made screens a no-no for kids
Singapore’s legislation is intended for preschools and primary schools, while parents are simply being urged to heed the associated health warnings about screen time at home. Teachers in Singapore will be tasked with minimizing screen interactions in the classroom starting in February of this year, enabling a return to more holistic modes of education.
In America, it’s unlikely we’d ever be able to pass a law. However, there’s been a widespread shift in the mindset of parents today who would embrace these kinds of rules in schools, many of whom are happy to leave the iPad on the charger and opt for more organic styles of enrichment for babies such as tummy time.
After all, infants have so much to adapt to in their first few months and years on Earth, and moves like the Singapore ban confront the question of whether or not screens—ubiquitous as they are—have any place in that delicate chapter of life.
So what should you do? At My Sweet Sleeper, our best advice is to keep yourself informed so you can make the best decisions for your child and your family.
The effect of screens on sleep
Even though those tiny pixels within pieces of glass are relatively new, it’s already well-documented that screens disrupt sleep in human beings of any age. If you think back to the last time you were up at 3 am and unable to close your eyes, there was probably a screen of some kind in front of you.
Unfortunately, it’s especially detrimental to the sleep health of toddlers and infants. They’re still finding their way into reliable patterns of rest, so the addition of a distracting screen can be confusing. That harm is exponentially worse for babies who have yet to establish their own circadian rhythm since blue light also interrupts that process.
Singapore’s ban is meant to facilitate healthier outcomes for young kids in all areas of life. Staring at the TV doesn’t allow for much outdoor play, it can inhibit socialization, and it exhausts both mental and physical energy with very little practical return. Critically, blue light form screens reduces our ability to create melatonin—a hormone that directly supports our sleep health.
These simple physical and mental exercises used to be a guarantee before the digital age came about, but as parents in 2025, we have to get creative if we want our little ones to flourish.
Swapping screens for healthier outlets
Curious about Singapore’s science-backed screen ban for the sake of a good night’s sleep? Take it into consideration! If your baby or toddler is tossing and turning and you suspect a tablet’s background noise and light are to blame, it could be helpful to turn the devices off for a bit to see if your child’s ability to sleep improves.
Granted, there could be lots going on that’s interfering with their rest, which is why consulting with a pediatric sleep expert is always a good idea. And for older children, you’ll definitely need to look into activities to replace their usual patterns of behavior. The key is to find appropriate activities for youngsters and exciting excursions for parents that fit your family’s needs and avoid using any screens. It’s an adjustment that stands to better the health of your baby or toddler, sleeping or otherwise.
For an infant, a lot of the adjustment will fall on you because they’re not the one on their phone. It can be something simple like reading a book or dancing to music with your infant in your arms instead of lounging on the couch. Parents of toddlers can focus on more active or outdoor activities that burn mental and physical energy. And hey, children benefit from fresh air anyway, so trading a YouTube show on their tablet for a playdate in the park is kind of an upgrade.
Of course, this isn’t to say that you should never put on a Disney movie for family night. It’s all about striking a balance that works for you and your child. At My Sweet Sleeper, we’ve seen families whose sleep schedules were totally out of whack and their collective TV/phone usage was at the center of those issues, so it’s a common root of a common problem.
Tending to your little one’s sleep health
As evidenced by Singapore’s ban, screen time has become a public health concern for kids in particular, but don’t let the data scare you. It’s an opportunity to keep yourself informed and start evolving a more complete opinion about the role and value of technology in your child’s developmental years.
Importantly, screen usage is often just a symptom of greater sleep disturbances. There might be other factors at play that are preventing your little one from sleeping soundly, and My Sweet Sleeper is at your disposal when cutting out the TV doesn’t actually cut it.
If your child is struggling with sleep or you’re just looking for some lifestyle advice that will help the whole family get some rest, book a consultation with us today and find out how peaceful your nights can be.
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